Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 48

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 48

Eli sat in the back seat of Nick’s car so that Zoe could continue to clutch someone’s hand while
Nick drove. She was inconsolable, not that Eli could blame her. Seeing a boat parade effectively
end with emergency services being called had disconcerted him, and he was an adult. He hadn’t
even thought twice; he’d hopped into Nick’s car before Nick had even finished saying, “Would
you mind—?” His parents hadn’t needed an explanation, just waved at him through the rolled-
down window with stern directives at Nick to drive safe. Good thing, too, because Eli’s
explanation would have been a little too close to “I’m starting to feel responsible for a kid that
isn’t even mine.”

-- 147 of 228 --

Zoe sniffled tearfully and held his hand so tight, Eli was sure he was losing circulation. “But what
if—?” she began to ask.
“For the last time, sweetheart,” Nick said from up front at the wheel, “no one was hurt. Not
even dolphins.”
“But how do you know?” Zoe wailed.
“Because dolphins can swim very fast. If there were any dolphins near the pier, they would have
moved out of the way before the boat even came close.”
Nick sounded so certain, even Eli was starting to believe him. No dolphins had been harmed in
the making of this shitshow.
“What about manatees?” Zoe insisted. “They can’t swim fast at all. That’s why they get hit by
boats all the time!” Tears welled up in her eyes again; she’d been crying off and on since they’d
gotten her in the car.
Eli caught Nick’s gaze in the rearview mirror. Based on his tense brow alone, he looked like he
was at the end of his rope. On top of Zoe’s extended breakdown, traffic was a nightmare as
everyone tried to flee the causeway at the
same time. Most of Nick’s concentration was rightly on the road as he drove them out of the
mess. Seeing no alternative, Eli took a shot at handling at least one part of the crisis.
“That’s a good point,” he said as he squeezed Zoe’s hand. “Manatees aren’t fast, but there
definitely weren’t any around tonight. We would have heard them. When they get hit by a boat,
they sound like this.” He tipped his head back and made a weird whiny groan that was a cross
between Chewbacca and a hissing radiator.
The act didn’t exactly get Zoe to stop crying, but the tears did slow down. She stared at him
from her booster seat, an incredulous look twisting her lips. It was the exact look Nick always
gave Eli when he did something unbelievably foolish.
“No, they don’t,” Zoe said.
“Yes, they do. You’ve just never been around when one gets hurt, thank goodness. Trust me,
once you hear them make that noise, you never forget it.”
Zoe craned her neck to peer at the driver’s seat. “Dad? Is that true?”
“Yes, honey. Eli’s right. We can be sure that no manatees were there tonight.”
“Oh.” Zoe subsided, slumping back in her seat. Her tiny hand still didn’t leave Eli’s. “What about
mermaids?” she asked.

-- 148 of 228 --

“Great question. Love that follow-up,” Eli said. “You see, mermaids only come to the surface in
the morning, super early, when no one’s around. At this time of night? Oh, they’re way
underwater.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Zoe said slowly.